Rent a Generator: Determine What Kind of Generator You Need

You need to know exactly what you need before you rent a generator. Things to consider include how long it will be running, who much voltage and amperage needed, and what kind of power you will need. Of course, any place where you can rent a generator can help you find what you are looking for, but it is good to know beforehand so you can answer the questions. This will also help you find the best deal so you don't end up with more than you need.

Before you decide which kind of generator you need to rent, consider these factors. Consider What You Need It For Generators are great at supplying power on many different occasions. Many people fail to appreciate electricity until it is gone. And when something happens to knock out the power, a generator can be a lifesaver. But it isn't just emergencies. There are many different times when they are used.

One is construction. New construction goes up before an area is wired for electricity. Without a generator, tools and other equipment wouldn't work. Many of these construction sites also have an on-site office. This office needs electricity to power lights and computers.

Special events are another time when it makes sense to rent a generator. Many of these events take place in open fields with tents, so there isn't a source of power. Of course, emergencies and power outages are times when many people are looking to rent generators. It can keep offices running or power a fridge and light a home. Many movies and television shows rely on rented generators so they can shoot on locations. They are also used for many outdoor concerts.

You need to know what type of generator you want to rent. This will depend on your needs. If you have a list of your needs, a sales associate should lead you to the right one. These are the most common ones.

Portable generators

Most people are probably looking to rent a portable generator. They are the best if you want to run a few essential appliances in your home during an outage. Its also good for running power tools on small construction sites. They come in a wide range of power. The maximum output tends to be about 10,000 watts. These are fairly small so they can be easily moved by one or two individuals. If you need to move it a lot, look for one that comes with wheel.

Towable Generators

If you need more power than what you would get from a portable model, you might want to rent a towable generator. Again, the power output varies greatly, but you can easily find one in the 15 to 650 KW range. You might want to look into getting extra fuel tank if you rent this kind of generator.

Trailer Mounted Generator

This isn't for residential applications, but for industrial one. These can put out up to 1500 kilowatts of power and run for 24 hours.

Entertainment Generators

The entertainment industry has a different need in their generators. While they need to provide power, they need to be quiet.

Power Distribution Panels. You'll also want to look into different options for power distribution, such as transformers and waterproof models.

Accessories.

Before you go home with the generator you are renting, find out if you need to get any accessories to go along with it.You might want to have a way to monitor it remotely. Another thing to consider is if you have all the extension cords that you need.

Consider What Size You Need

Residential consumers will of course want portable generators that are small enough to go in their basements during a black out. But there are also larger ones that can be the size of trailers or units that are skid-mounted. In general, the bigger the generator the more watts of power it will produce. So you need to know how many watts you need before you go to the store. The easiest way to do this is to find out how many watts each thing want running requires, then add numbers together. You can get the wattage number by multiplying volts and apms. You want a number that is a bit higher than your calculation. Starting something up takes more watts than keeping it operating. If you don't calculate enough watts, you'll end up with the circuit breaker tripping or the generator shutting down. But at the same time you don't want something that is too powerful. This is just wasteful

Consider the power source.

The majority of generators that you rent will run on diesel or gas, though there are some that use natural gas or propane. If you are getting one for home use, it will probably be a gas-run one. These tend to be cheaper than diesel units. Since diesel generates a better output of power, it is used mostly for larger models. Sound and Emissions Construction sites won't care if their unit is quiet, but this is a major concern for other people. A quiet generator is appreciated for home use and special events. In general, you'll find that new models are more efficient and quieter than older ones.

Safety

Be sure to address safety issues before you rent a generator. Look for ones that have good safety features such as GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter. This will prevent things such as electric shocks. Also, make sure that if the oil levels are too low that the model will shut off automatically. Overloading can be avoided if there are circuit breakers in the generator.

For most needs, it will be most cost effective to rent a generator as opposed to buying one. But there are some occasions where you will be better off purchasing your own. This includes people who live in areas where the power goes out regularly. If you are often in the path of snowstorms or hurricanes, you might want to buy a generator. Even in these cases it makes sense to rent one first to make sure that it runs what you want and it fits all of your needs.